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Last week we covered tips on making a travel film, now we will cover how to edit all those short video clips and make a travel film. Before you get a head of yourself and just dive into making your travel movie the following are some tips to ensure your movie is as interesting to others as it is to you.

Likely you have all the software you need already on your computer. Software such as iMovie (Mac Computers) and Windows Movie (PC Computers) will stich together individual videos, add music or other sounds and add credits. Open Shot and Light Works are alternate software options. However consider the following tips before you get started.

Plan

Plan your movie by choosing the theme. There are a number of themes or methods to structure your movie for example your movie can be about one building and it can be set up to duplicate your experience or it can be a compilation of projects in the same city or by the same architect. You could make a series of short movies, each focusing on a different building typology. A long movie can be short snap shots of each building you visited in chronological order. The themes are endless, be creative.

Timeline / Storyboard

Make a timeline and/or storyboard. This sounds cumbersome and overkill however it can be a really basic doodle or point form notes but having a plan will save time in the long run and ensure you are making a concise movie that tells a story and is not just random video clips stitched together.

Movie Length

Determine how long your movie will be before you start. It is advisable to try and keep it under five minutes if you want to send and share your movie online so the file size is still manageable. Deciding the length of the movie also helps know how much to edit and whether you have enough video footage.

Music

Trying adding music to your movie, perhaps a song from the region you traveled or a song you listened to while traveling. Another possibility is to narrate the movie yourself so you are able to speak to the footage with stories or interesting facts. This is another reason why determining the movie length is coordinated to a certain song or narrative.

Narrate

If you like the idea of narrating you can take it a step further and add yourself to the movie by adding clips of yourself explaining the projects or sharing a story of your adventure between your travel footage. This is a great way to be included in the movie since you are normally behind the camera.

Edit

Edit your travel videos. In film production there is a “10 second rule” which means that every 10 seconds something interesting should happen. Any shaky or blurry footage should be cut out and scenes that are boring should be reduced. Try to keep the video concise and interesting for your viewers.

Compress

To make your movie ready to share on social media for a DVD, for your travel blog or sharing it online compress your movie file and name it clearly.

Practice Practice Practice

Lastly, things always look easier than they are so practice.

Here is my first attempt at making a travel film, I definitely need more practice.

Create your own travel movie from all your video clips to share is easier than you may think. Video can be the most amazing way to capture, relive and share your architectural experiences. There are a few advantages of video over photography such as the obvious sound, but video also replicates movement and time very differently than photography because it is capable of capturing what comes before and after. When visiting and documenting architecture although the subject matter is likely static the viewer is not and some buildings truly unfold and develop as you move through them, video is a perfect way to capture these experiences.

For the amateur film maker, like myself, your DSLR or point and shoot camera will have a video mode and that will be good enough.

Here are some tips on how to create your travel videos:

The idea

Have an idea of what you want your travel video(s) to be, for example do you want to create a series of videos of different architectural projects or will you compile a series of short snap shots of different buildings. Your video can take on themes similar to photography:

easily recognizable,

very objective

experimental,

detail based

snap shot of for comparison,

a story

artsy

Be sure your video has a beginning, middle and end.

Tripod

Use a tripod when possible, unlike still photography where shutter speeds can be increased to prevent blurry photos a video may be harder to prevent shaky footage. Many times a tripod is not permitted in public buildings so try to keep this in mind and use similar techniques for holding your camera as covered in the photography section.

10 second rule

In film production there is a “10 second rule” which means that every 10 seconds something interesting should happen. When filming architecture it may be difficult to get action is every scene. If your scene is uneventful you can edit the shot in post-production but at least you will have enough footage if you choose to add a fade or narration. An easy way to add action in your architectural film is to include people, they will give scale and show interaction with the space, also use light, the sun moves, and a long video can be speed up in post-production and be very dynamic.

Variety

It is a good idea to vary your scenes; this will keep it interesting and add interest to your travel movie. Try to capture less common vantage points, film the details and overall shots, ensure you have a variety of camera angles such as shooting low and high, on the side or on an angle. Remember, as per photography architecture reads better when photographed and filmed at chest height. All of this variety will help tell the story and keep your viewers interested.

Avoid

Try to avoid zooming in and out which will appear amateur and avoid panning your camera without a tripod since it will be very difficult to do it without shaking.

Separate audio

If you intend on using the audio captured in situ try to use separate audio devise such as your smart phone or tape recorder and leave the recorder running longer. This will let you match the studio to the edited video separately allowing you more control over the sound and no choppy sound bits. Ie: city traffic, people talking, religious chanting etc.

Equipment

Keep in mind that video will use up more space on your memory card and require more battery. It is recommended you buy an extra good quality memory card (they are not all created equal) and test the life of your battery, perhaps investing in an additional battery.

Observe

Pay attention when you are watching movies and film, there is architecture in most of them; notice how the camera angles are setup how the building is presented even if it is a backdrop. Often we do not notice the nuances of a craft until we try it ourselves.

This all sounds like a lot of work while in situ however a few seconds of film here and there can make for a fantastic short video but I would recommend some practicing at home or around your neighbourhood the first few times to become familiar with video if it is new to you.

Post production photo editing is fairly common, particularly if you plan to use the photography in your home, share it with friends and family or put it in a photo album. I do all my post production in Adobe Photoshop but there is similar software available which will do many of the following tips. If you shoot with RAW images you will have more ability to adjust the photo, these tips are applicable for standard JPEGs.

1. Save as

Before I start any photo editing it is a good idea to save the photo with a different name so you can always go back to the original if you need it in the future. Normally I just add a letter to the end of the photo name this way it is filed next to the original and I can easily find which photo is the original.

2. Rotate

Sometimes your photo may need slight rotation because the strong lines of the building are too straight. It is a good idea to make use of the guides to check on the alignment with the photo’s edge, just click on the rulers and drag. Another method of adjusting the alignment is using the ruler tool. Rotate – make sure the horizon is correct or vertical is perfect.

Drag the ruler along the line you wish to be vertical > Image Menu > Image Rotation > Arbitrary

3. Crop

Composition is arguably the most important element of architectural photography. I recommend cropping immediately so you are only working on and looking at the final photograph size and content. Be careful to crop to a size that is proportional to what the photo will be used for, in other words, if you plan to print 4×6 photos the cropping should be in proportion or if you plan to upload to Instagram your photo needs to be a square proportion.

image, Spertus Museum Chicago, cropped into a square for instagram

4. Defog

I only recently discovered this feature, which will save you lots of time mucking around with the curves and levels. This function will remove the fog and haze in your photo and can make a big difference. Below if the suggested amounts however sometimes the percentage needs to increase.

5. Contrast

The Brightness/Contrast allows for changes to the tonal range of the entire photo. The brightness slider expands or decreases the highlights or shadows while the contrast slider expands or decreases the tonal values in the overall image.

Layer Menu > New adjustment layer > Brightness/Contrast > Click OK

6. Hue and Saturation

This tool is easily fine tunes the hue and saturation your photos. The Hue slider will alter the entire photos range of colour, this is good for effects such as adjusting the photo from colour to black and white or effects such as sepia. The saturation slider is great for making your photos more vivid or muted.

Layer Menu > New adjustment layer > Hue/Saturation > Click OK

7. Levels

The levels tool uses the histogram of the photo to adjust the tonal range of its brightness and contrast which is accomplished by selecting the black, white and midtones will be on the histogram. A rule of thumb is the histogram should typically extend the entire width of the graph; however the image should be previewed while making adjustments.

Layer Menu > New adjustment layer > Levels > Click OK

image, Museum of Civilization Ottawa, slider was taken in for both the white and black based on histogram

8. Curves

Curves are an intimidating tool however it is one of the most powerful tools for adjusting your photography’s tonal range. The graph begins with a straight diagonal line which represents the image’s tonality, the upper right are the highlights, the lower-left are the shadows. Adjusting the RGB can be done in several ways, I encourage playing around with the tool to practice how it can be utilized. I typically use this when photographing white interiors; it is sometimes difficult to achieve a crisp white when the majority of the content is white.

Layer Menu > New adjustment layer > Curves > Click OK

image, Guggenheim Museum New York City, curve adjusted to increase the highlights and make building more white

9. Shadows / Highlights

Unlike many of the other tools in photoshop the Shadows / Highlight tool will adjust strong backlighting or areas washed out from over exposure separate from the rest of the picture. Practice adjusting the different slider options to see how they will affect your photo. Be sure to click on ‘Show more options’ to get full use of the tool. Be careful to use this tool lightly since it can easily result in an artificial

image, The Beekman New York City, the shadows and highlight sliders were adjusted to suit (some deletion of adjacent buildings using the clone tool)

10. Correct Morie Effect

Moiré pattern typically occurs when a repetitive lines or dots occur in a tight pattern and thus create a third pattern. for example, horizontal or vertical wood slats, frit patterns on glass, sun shades, fences, and so on, the repetition exceeds the camera’s sensor resolution. How much morie effect you will encounter in your photography has a lot to do with your camera and lens design, it is a common issue with digital SLRs. A few tips to avoid the issue while shooting is to increase the pixels per square inch, shoot in RAW, change the angle or distance you are shooting from. If morie effect still occurs it can be corrected or reduced in post production.

Use the Lasso tool to select the morie pattern > Filter Menu > Blur > Gaussian Blur (do not to use the defog tool it will likely more the morie pattern worse)

image, New Amsterdam Pavilion New York City, increased Gaussian blur to 1.4 pixels

These tools all have their place in post production photography but it is important to to learn when each tool is needed, you will not need to use all of them. It is also best to spend time to perfect your photographing skills to reduce the amount of post production work necessary, No Photoshop work is the goal. So do not over do it and try to use these tools to subtly help improve your photography not drastically alter it.

There are many reasons why traveling to visit architecture in distant cities can be difficult, the cost of travel has gone up significantly, it is hard to get time off work, you have obligations, you just don’t like to travel or you can’t afford it. In my case I recently had a baby thus realizing this is going to change how I travel and how much I travel as much as I didn’t want to believe it before. So I have been thinking about all the ways I can still get my architecture fix without travel and possibly without even leaving my house. Here are my suggestions:

Books

I love books, let me clarify, I love big coffee table books. There are thousands of beautiful modern architecture books available with amazing photos and lots of information about architecture and their architects. Many books are compilation of architecture projects, Phaidon Press always creates awesome modern architecture books. My favorite recent book is The Phaidon Atlas of 21st Century World Architecture which features more than 1000 of the finest architecture completed since the year 2000 from around the world. And now that I think about it you don’t need to leave your house for books anymore either.

Magazines

For those who like to stay in the know regarding new architectural projects, awards, news, and events magazines are just the thing. They are also idea for flipping through while having your morning coffee, they are easy to digest, portable and not precious objects so they can be recycled when you are done. You can also subscribe to magazines so you don’t even need to think about it. Here are some good ones.

Digital Books and Magazines

Although there is nothing like a tangible book I am very fond of all things digital. If you have a Kobo, Kindle, or tablet you can purchase digital architecture books or magazines so if you are the type that doesn’t like a lot of stuff or don’t have a lot of space this is perfect. Plus you can order them anytime of day and get it instantly.

Architecture Documentaries

I always say that because architecture is three dimensional it should be viewed in person to understand the true space and to grasp the real nature of the architecture HOWEVER the next best thing is film. There are some outstanding Documentaries about architecture where you can learn about a series of projects by one architect or learn a ton about one building. Click here for a link to a bunch of architecture documentaries worth getting.

Lectures

Check out your local architecture college / university they often run architectural lecture series through the school year bringing in some really fascinating architects to speak about their work. I have seen Elizabeth Diller, Tadao Ando, Craig Dykers from Snohetta, Kazuyo Sejima from SANNA,and so forth. Listening to the architect speak of the challenges, the inspiration and reasoning is priceless and I have found very inspiring. Other places to learn about lectures or events is in magazines, also check you local architecture associations website there is usually a list of events.

Youtube

Youtube is not new but I feel like I have only recently realized its true value when it comes to architecture. There are countless interviews with architects and short documentaries about buildings on youtube, they vary in length and context but they are similar to lectures in that you can get the real scoop on process and design, challenges and my favourite is seeing how different the office environments are. I have a few blog posts that have several youtube links, see below, or you can just search youtube for whatever or whomever you are interested in.

Gone are the days of cheap travel, I cannot believe how expensive flights and hotels have become. Not long ago we could get half-way around the world for what now seems like peanuts. But for us curious explorers we cannot stop traveling and visiting our favorite architectural landmarks so we must find other ways to save.

Here are my travel budget tips to offset the costs of traveling.

(from a float plane on my way Salmon fishing in the Queen Charlotte Islands, BC)

Do the Research

Before you leave be sure to research the architecture, monuments, museums and towers you plan to visit, jot down the entry fees and compare it to your budget. If the entry fees are adding up you may need to prioritize (also see 5 TIPS FOR VISITING ARCHITECTURE). This will be important to help find savings in the tips below.

The Budget

Budgets aren’t my favorite thing either but here is a quick and easy formula:

Start with how much you want or can afford to spend on you trip I would start with that

Calculate how many days you will need accommodation and do a quick estimate of your average accommodation budget is

You should allow for food and spending money – this is going to vary greatly depending on what country you are going to be.

Remember this is a starting point to make sure things don’t go off track to much, accommodation/ food and spending money is an average number so if one day you are going to a number of monuments but the day after you plan to hang out at the beach it should average out.

Flexibility

When you have flexibility and /or time you can usually find better deals on flights and hotels in the offseason – this will save you money on flights and hotels that you can use towards entry fees and day tours.

We all have to Eat

I am a foodie but sometimes on travels food is fuel and not the main event so what I like to do is try and save money on one meal a day.

Breakfast: Often I travel with food, a few protein bars or granolar bars because they are easy to transport or I will go to the market and get some fresh fruit or a treat from the bakery while I am out and about and have that in my hotel room with coffee, if there is a coffee machine in the room. This is a relaxing and quick way to have breakfast in the morning, often while I review the plan for the day.

Lunch: if lunch is my money saving meal I will try to have a bigger breakfast and grab a snack on the go midday. Street food is always my favorite but that will depend on what city you are in. Also if you are having a big breakfast and an early dinner you may skip lunch all together. If you are close to market grab some fresh fruits and vegetable which are hard to get enough of when traveling.

(variety of street food in Istanbul, Turkey)

Dinner: this is a bit trickier to save for, but possible, ask your concierge for recommendations and try to stay out of the tourist areas which are normally expensive and not that great.

Some general tips: If coffee is super pricey, my experience in Tokyo, I have gone to the store and purchased some instant coffee to have in the hotel.

With all these ways to save I do not recommend trying to save a dollar on water. Drink safe reliable water especially in hot places, if you are in Rome and it is over 40 degrees Celsius it is important to stay hydrated, try grabbing a big bottle of water from the grocery store instead of the stands in front of the Coliseum.

Citypass

Because you have been diligent and done a ton of research prior to your trip you will know which sites you plan to visit and the entry fee prices, but many cities offer a ‘citypass’ (the name of the pass vary from city to city) which basically bundles a bunch of popular city sights for a flat rate. This is perfect for those who plan to go to enough of the sights on the list. Many of these value packages offer features such as line-bypass or discounts for other places, stores or shows. Here are a few examples:

To find if the cities you are traveling to have a citypass I typically would Google the city name and the phrase ‘tourist card’, the officially tourist website of the city/country you are going should also have some advertising for it.

Museums

Many Museums and Galleries offer pricing for General Admission, the Temporary Exhibit and typically another price for both. You can save some money by viewing only the Permanent Collection, it is all new stuff if you have never been there before and if you are really just interested in the architecture you will see the main spaces and most of the building without the up charge on the Temporary Exhibit.

Also try to take advantage of the time where it is free entry, most museums and galleries do offer this so if it works with your schedule try to take advantage but I must warn you it will likely be busy.

Buy your tickets in advance, sometimes there is a discount for purchasing ahead of time, for some museums and art galleries you need to book a time anyways so I would recommend always looking into this as part of your research.

Tourist Trap

Prada by Herzog & de Meuron Architekten

Don’t get sucked into the tourist trap of feeling like you need to visit every monument, museum, gallery, ruin and historic something rather which all have entry fees. Pick and choose which you actually want to go to, perhaps the Arc de Triomphe is awesome enough from the ground floor and you don’t need to go up, the view is pretty cool that was just an example. If you don’t find a bunch of ruins that interesting because history is not your thing you are better to check out an awesome Square or Piazza and have an ice cream or go shopping in some super trendy boutiques. Don’t feel like you need to hit the top ten listed in some travel guide.

Sleep on the Go

You can save a night’s accommodation if you book an overnight train or flight rather than spending the entire day commuting only to arrive to your destination just to sleep. If you plan to do this bring a small inflatable pillow, ear plugs or load your iPod with some relaxing white noise, an eye mask and a light blanket. Be sure to keep you valuables safe, I have sat on top of my passport and money on a few train rides, and try to keep your luggage in easy viewing distance, better a few seats in front of you than behind you.

Discounts

If you are young, a student or a senior you got it made for discounts. Almost everything offers a discount from public transit to popular landmarks; if it is not advertised ask if there is a discount. Some reward cards or membership cards offer discounts to hotels and attractions, it’s worth reviewing the offers before booking your trip.

Transportation

Try to walk as much as possible, take public transit or rent a bike over taxis. You can see the city the best by foot and cover a lot of terrain in a bike. Do what the locals do to get around, ie: in Kyoto renting a bike for a few days was perfect, very convenient and flexible, in most cities I take the metro, in Istanbul I saved a ton if money taking the regular commuting ferry up the Bosporus River rather than an expensive tourist cruise, you miss the commentary but the scenery is the same for only a few dollars.

(Kyoto, Japan by bike)

Cash

Try not to exchange money or withdrawal money too frequently, most exchange centers have bad exchange rates and banks can charge fees for each withdrawal (learned this the hard way). Try to change as much money as you feel comfortable carrying before you leave. I recommend not keeping all your money in one place no matter how much you have, I always try to have an emergency bill or two tucked somewhere no one would go ie: shoes, bra, sock (gross I know but I would not want to be completely stranded somewhere without even a way to get back to the hotel). Before you leave it may be worth a quick internet search of where a good place to get cash is or ask your concierge.

Whats Included

It shocks me beyond words that in this day and age free WiFi is not standard in every hotel but many hotels do charge. It will be beneficial and save you time and money to have free WiFi access with your accommodations, it will be easy to contact friends and family, look up venues you plan to go to, and allows more freedom to change your itinerary and research new things on the fly.

Complimentary breakfast will also save you money if you take full advantage and have a healthy size breakfast you may not to have lunch at all.

More Time – Less Places

I know I know – there are so many places and so little time but if you cram in too much you won’t enjoy it anyways and be paying to be in an airport, on a train/bus for half your trip. So stop and smell the roses, it will be easier on your pocket book too.

Years ago I realized…

I am an architecture GROUPIE

thinking, planning, researching and traveling to different cities all over the world visiting modern and contemporary architecture.

The architecture varied in age, size, use, materials and often left me speechless. There is so much beauty and inspiration in Architecture and I just wanted to see it all. I still do.

While I was in Berlin, a Studies Abroad during Grad school, I sought great architecture out. The old stuff was easy to find but it was the modern and contemporary projects that were the real challenge to find and that was what I was most interested in – I was determined. So with my detective skills found these buildings and visited dozens upon dozens of amazing projects. Soon my tours and architectural visits caught on and friends (mostly architecture students) asked me for my modern and contemporary architecture address book. Because I love architecture and love to share it I not only gave them the address book but advised which where ‘must sees’ and when to go and how to get there.

This went on for years…

Finally I realized I am not the only architecture groupie so I decided this information needed to be shared with all the architecture groupies of the world.

Architecture GROUPIE.com was officially launched in July 2012. The website’s goal is simple: to locate modern and contemporary architecture for you so you can get to it. I have carefully edited the information to include an image, the architect, the year it was completed, a weblink and of course the address and closest transit station.

ar·chi·tec·ture: is the product of planning, designing and constructing buildings which are often perceived as cultural symbols and works of art.

group·ie: is an ardent fan of a celebrity who follows these celebrities to have sexual relations with them.

ar·chi·tec·ture·group·ie: is an ardent fan of the celebrity starchitect** who seeks orgasmic pleasure from beautifully planned, designed and constructed buildings, traveling the globe visiting these works of art.

** used to describe architects whose celebrity and critical acclaim have transformed them into idols of the architecture world and may even have given them some degree of fame amongst the general public. (thanks Wikipedia)

So what building’s make the list? I have tried to be as impartial as I can, including only completed modern and contemporary architecture. Private residence or projects with sensitive programs have been excluded to respect the privacy of those who inhabit them. Buildings which are difficult to get to are also limited because going on a wild goose chase for one project is not always the best use of one’s time as well as any projects I could not confidently locate. There are exceptions to these guidelines but this is the fundamental parameters of the archGROUPIE modern and contemporary architecture directory.

but the directory is continuing to grow and now includes maps of selected cities.

This blog has been added to offer helpful tips and information which has come from my experiences and research. My hope is that this website will help other people see these projects and give more popularity to modern and contemporary architecture amongst the general population.also check out architecture GROUPIE stuff & things

So we take these extraordinary architectural journeys and visit inspirational places and but when we get home it seem almost immediately to be like a dream that went by in a flash. Before you begin planning your next trip take some time and package your architectural memories.

Make the most of your experiences and re-live them by sharing with family and friends. This is what I do to keep the inspiration and memories around me or at my finger tips.

Scrapbook / Box it

It sounds nerdier then it is. I try to keep all the tickets stubs, receipts, plane boarding passes, train tickets and even subway cards from my trips. When I return home I usually put them all in a scrapbook or well labeled box. It is surprising how much you forget until you open up the scrapbook or box and see a ticket stub to a museum or tour and flooded with memories of the day and experience. I also like to look back to see how much I paid for things like flights or dinners and it makes it much easier when friends ask me what I did when I was there. It is also nice to see how different the each scrapbook can be, ticket stubs and receipts in different languages, little notes and things you pick up along your travels can vary immensely. The scrapbook doesn’t need to be beautiful – just make sure the paper has a heavy weight, I like paperclips for pamphlets and maps, staples and glue work well also.

Photobook

Some of us will have taken thousands of digital pictures which will go into our computers never to be seen again. Create a photobook that looks like a magazine, the days of the old 4×6 picture album with plastic sleeves is over. There are much better photobooks that are so easy to make online. I have used the Blacks photobooks but there are lots of companies that provide similar services.

Now that we take hundreds, even thousands of photos on our trips picking the right pictures can be a bit of work. An easy way to sift through all of this is to make a ‘BEST OF…’ folder. Then go through all the pictures and any one you like COPY into the ‘BEST OF…’ folder, you do not need to be too picky at this point, if you are really thorough this is when you can delete any out of focus shots or just really bad ones. When you are done the first round go to the ‘BEST OF…’ folder and see how many pictures you have. Keep narrowing it down removing photos that are repetitive, try to get the essence of the trip. Depending on how big you want to make your photobook is how many photos you should have in this folder.

Slideshow

Using the photos from your ‘BEST OF…’ folder you can easily make this into a slideshow. There is so much software available to do this I won’t go through all of them, keep in mind you can add any videos you took, include local music, add captions and so on. Be creative and have fun. You can play your slideshow on your TV or computer; you can send it to your friends and family online. I recommend no more than 200 pictures – this is even pushing it for the average attention span – they weren’t there so they are only so interested. Also be sure that the pictures you use in a slideshow are not just of you with a landmark in the background, my brother and his girlfriend did this and watching a slideshow essentially of just them was pretty boring and we have never let them live it down (all in good fun).

Journal it

Writing and/or drawing in a journal is so gratifying for your future reminiscing. I highly encourage you to spend a few minutes everyday on the trip and jot down a few things you were thinking throughout the day. But what do you write, here are some ideas: the most surprising or best part of the day, what really inspired you and why, what you thought was disappointing. If you don’t’ like to spend time doing this when you could be out and about take advantage of the train rides or waiting in the airport, there is always some downtime that can be better utilized. These short notes are priceless and you can keep them private or share them.

Showcase

It is always nice to surround yourself with memories of the places you have been and also a way to decorate your home. Here are some suggestions of ways to display your photos which I have done.

Print 4×6 photos and collage them together, this is inexpensive and a fun home project. The image above is a small portion of my photos of Japan, if you make the collage big enough it has lots of impact and can tell the story of your trip and all the places you have been.

This image are photos I printed on my home printer and then spray glued each photo on foamcore, using an x acto knifecut off the boarders and mounted them on the wall using a small piece of double sided tape (be careful to use a tape that can come off the wall easily).

A series of photos is also nice, the image above are two photos from Turkey I sent to be printed and then mounted them in frames I purchased. This is more expensive, the cost will depend on the frame and type of printing you choose.

Party

Often when I return from a trip I am eager to share what I have seen and learned with anyone who will listen. Returning from a vacation doesn’t mean the fun is over – have a party themed and inspired by it. When I returned home from Peru I decided to have a bunch a girlfriends over and host a ‘Peruvian night’ we all brought a Peruvian dish, drank pisco sours and I ran my slideshow with the native music playing. It was all very fun and relaxed and because a few of them had already been there it was a trip down memory lane for them too.

HDR is an awesome photo technique so if you haven’t tried it in your architectural photography you should.

I am going to give you the 101 on HDR.

High Dynamic Range(HDR) is a post-processing method of taking a series of images, combining them, and adjusting the contrast ratios to do things that are virtually impossible with a single aperture and shutter speed.

HDR compensates for this loss of detail of overexposed and underexposed areas in a photo by taking multiple pictures at different exposure levels and stitching them together to produce a picture that is representative in both dark and bright areas in computer software during post-production.

The reason HDR creates such amazingly realistic photos is because a single image uses only one shutter speed and one aperture setting however the human eye does not process images the same way. Your eyes move and adjust the light as required and does a lot to process an image accurately. So even with the best equipment getting an accurate representation of what you saw is difficult. HDR stitches all the images together – a trick to accurately represent and image. Many times HDR is exaggerated in post-production – this effect is no for everyone or appropriate for all pictures so balancing the effect with your desired outcome is where the challenge lies. Some examples of HDR from www.stuckincustoms.com:

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What you need:

1. MANUAL CAMERA

A camera which can be put into manual mode, likely a DSLR or SLR, because you will need to be able to adjust your exposure (I have the Canon 4Ti which is an inexpensive camera with lots of features). Most DSLRs have Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) which allows you to set the exposure easily and the photo will take the photos and adjust automatically. If you are not sure check your camera’s manual. Some of the newest cameras have an HDR feature but this does all the work for you and you will have no control over the final output – do a comparison to see if you are happy with the results. Also, I would recommend taking the photos in RAW+JPEG but if you are low on memory or can’t shoot in the RAW it is fine (Shooting in RAW just gives more post production control).

2. TRIPOD

A tripod is important to maintain the exact same shot with different exposures. There are so many tripods out there and the price range is significant the Manfrotto 410 is an awesome tripod because of all the leveling features and stability but there are less expensive tripods on the market. For the purpose of HDR you just need to keep the camera still so a basic tripod and you can adjust and straighten your photo in post-production. It is also recommended to have a camera remote (canon rs-60e3) which prevents the camera from shaking when you press the shoot button. If you are traveling and want to pack light just use the timer on your camera so you press the button and there is a short delay before the camera goes off.

3. POWER & MEMORY

Taking HDR is requires taking multiple shots for every one photo, usually 3 or 5 but if you are very particular or need a really perfect image you can do more with less exposure range between them. Thus you will be going through your batteries and memory 3 or 5 times faster, something to prepare for if you are taking a trip. Note: if you are planning a trip soon try this technique before you go so you don’t miss a great photo.

4. THE SUBJECT

The image should not be in motion, repetitive motion is fine for example a waterfall but people walking will result in ghosting – which can be a cool effect but may not be what you want. If you are shooting architecture this shouldn’t be a problem. Also, you will likely see the most noticeable improvement in photos where the subject has with lots of color, HDR can be used for monochromatic photography however I found the benefits less apparent.

5. SOFTWARE

There are a number of software programs available to do the HDR post-production, I always use Adobe Photoshop but this is pretty expensive software, an alternate I have been hearing about is called Photomatrix.

OKAY – now you are ready to begin, it is easy

Setup your camera on a tripod as you would for any photo

Using the AEB function set three exposure levels appropriate to your setting with one begin the correct exposure (you can add more exposures as you practice). You can meter the dark and light spots to find the right exposure range. If you do not have AEB you will need to adjust the exposure manually after each shot but be careful not to move the camera.

Take the photos, depending on your camera you will either press the shot button once or will need to do it for each shot.

Bring your images into the post-production software and have fun, play around with the features and the light levels. The process will depend on the software you choose, if you are using Photoshop this YouTube video will help you see the process: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qhnd1oNlqCU

+ + =

You will never say

“Well, you really had to be there” again

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Architectural sketches are many things but they do NOT need to be perfect / meticulous or even pretty. Sketches are tools and without rules. Often times we shy away from sketching because we think they need to be pretty perfect replicas of whatever we are sketching.

Sketching offers so many benefits such as:

a record of something you have visited and seen in person

a record of one or more aspects of something you want to keep record of

a way of learning how materials and forms come together

is a great alternative when cameras are not permitted

sketching is slower than photography which lets you take a moment and really appreciate and look at the architecture you are visiting

you can add notes and thoughts to your sketches

a rough description – it’s OK if they lack detail; don’t fill the page or are not even completed

All you need:

Pencil: A carbon pencil is great for the beginner – they come in a variety of lead grades and provide a varied and richness to sketches over mechanical pencils which are hard and thin, I would recommend a soft lead such as a B or 2B, for a sketcher quality you can even move up to a 6B. Mechanical pencils break easily and because they are so thin it will be more difficult to shade and obtain a variety of line qualities. No erasers – don’t bring an eraser sketches do not need to be perfect when you make a mistake work with it or start over, this adds character and will help you improve.

Pen: there are so many types of pens available; the easiest to sketch with, in my opinion is a felt tip marker. The thicker the pen the less precise and detailed you need to be. Experiment with pen types you have, I would not recommend traveling with a fountain pen, they require refills and my fountain pen exploded on me after a long flight so stick with a basic felt or nylon tips.

Paper: a sketch book with good quality paper is important, also if you choose to use markers you will need a paper that can hold the ink without bleeding the next page. Every sketch looks better on good paper – Moleskine has a variety of paper weight available for their sketchbooks and the paper color also varies which adds to the quality of the sketch.

Sketching Tips:

Everyone has different preferences so spend a few minutes and experiment with what you like. You do not need to travel with lots or supplies, 2 pens and 2 pencils and 1 sketchbook are enough.

To do this sort of sketching you need to relax and let yourself go and not to be afraid of making mistakes and to have an understanding of form and shape.

A lack of confidence and worrying about a perfect sketch inhibits your work and enjoyment of the process. Sketches are a means of conveying an idea, they are tools to learn, understand and communicate so they do not need to be perfect or finished.

Really simple tips to elevate your sketches:

Darken the end of the line

Overlap corners

Add a dot at the end of the line

Leave gaps in lines

Repeat your line

Shade on a 45° angle & vary you depth

Write notes

Use white space

Continuous lines (don’t lift your pencil/pen)

When drawing a long straight line do not use your wrist but rather move your entire arm – try it.

Draw something everyday – an exercise which will bring fluency and confidence to your drawing

We are always looking to improve our architectural photography skills to get the best architecture photos possible. Here are a few ideas and tips based on my experience and research to keep in mind the next time you are visiting your favorite modern and contemporary architecture.

1. Closeup vs. Far Away

When photographing buildings from closeup they can sometimes appear to be sloping backwards – sometimes this can be corrected in Photoshop however if possible try moving farther away from the building and use a telephone lens this will correct the distortion and result in much straighter lines. Notice the difference in the two Chicago skyscrapers above, the photo to the left is taken from a much closer with a wide angle lens and the photo to the left from a boat with a telephoto lens – the end result is dramatically different.

2. Foreground and Background

Including an interesting foreground such as plants, people, or cars can help contrast the building lines and form. A background such as trees, clouds, other buildings can do the same. Be sure to keep the focus on the architecture by adjusting your depth of field. The photo of 21-21 Design Sight in Tokyo by Tadao Ando is framed by textured vegetation which contrasts the strong straight lines of the building roof and glazing.

3. Silhouettes

At dusk or dawn you can try having fun with silhouettes. Some buildings have wonderful and distinct forms which can be understood even without all the details. In Istanbul the beautiful mosques have minuets and domes that can be clearly read even as a silhouette, photo above.

4. The Essence

Capture the essence of the space. This old and wonderful elevator in Prague was an accidental find – a photo without displaying its movement would not be the same. Experiment with shutter speeds to get the amount of blur you are happy with. A few other ideas is intentionally overexposing or underexposing these can be great effects if done in the right space to capture the mood of the architecture.

5. Lines

Architectural photography is often about lines, angles, details, colors, shapes and materials and textures, exploit what you believe the most important element of the building. To keep your lines straight be sure to turn on your camera grids on this is also helpful for following the Rule of Thirds. Straightening out your lines can also be done in the post production phase (I frequently rotate and crop photos in Photoshop).

6. Sky

A big blue sky is great but it can be boring. On my trip to Machu Picchu I was disappointed when I awoke to a rainy overcast day however I realized this fog and rain added a lot of mystery and drama to my photo, above.

Clouds / Overcast / Fog / Sun – use light and its qualities to your advantage no matter what it is.

7. Location and Approach

There are so many buildings where the approach and procession to it is worth documenting.

Build the suspense – don’t give it all away.

8. Night and Light

Don’t be afraid to capture architecture at night, you will likely need a tripod but a building can completely transform from day to night and that night shot may be amazing. Architects spend a lot of time planning what a building will look like at night. These photos are more challenging my suggestion is turn off your flash and increase your ISO and aperture, also I also try to get these photos just after sunset when the lights are on but it is not complete darkness – again a tripod is crucial for a perfect night photo!

9. Abstract

You don’t need to get the whole building, editing can result in an abstract photo emphasizing architectural elements and strong features. The ROM by Daniel Libeskind, above, is made of sloping jagged forms – I tried to focus on that aspect of the architecture only and cutting out all the other elements on the building.

10. Unexpected & Dramatic

Many times the most interesting architecture photos are when they are taken from an angle you would not expect or think of. On the left is Frank Gehry’s ‘Fred & Ginger’ building in Prague when was looking at this building I was more interested in understanding how the glass was being supported but I soon noticed I was in fact looking up Ginger’s ‘skirt’ so i took advantage of the unexpected photo opportunity. The photo on the left is the John Hancock Building in Chicago, I love the form of this building and the drama of standing at its base.

“God created paper so that architecture could be drawn on it”

Alvar Alto

We are forever fascinated by the Architect’s doodle and how those scribbles on a napkin transform into architecture.

The architect’s sketch is often described as an intuitive force which emerges as a way of communicating their vision to the client. These scribbles on the page hold so much insight into how that architect thinks and conveys their ideas to the world. Sometimes ithey are so abstracted from a built form we understand that only when it is complete all the ideas held within the sketch are completely understood.

Many sketches hang in museums and are viewed as pieces of art but where only created as tools for the architect to express their ideas. Over the course of their career architects create thousands of sketches to convey every detail of the building, they say a picture is worth a thousand words but a sketch is worth far more than that.

I am spellbound by these sketches, check the arch GROUPIE Flickr account for a small sample of some of our favourite architect’s sketches.

Bjarke Ingels was born in 1974 and founded B.I.G. (Bjarke Ingels Group) based in both Copenhagen and New York they are well known for innovative and nontraditional design ideas. Together they work within the field of architecture, urbanism, research and development.

B.I.G’s collective belief is

“A pragmatic utopian architecture that steers clear of the petrifying pragmatism of boring boxes and the naïve utopian ideas of digital formalism… By hitting the fertile overlap between pragmatic and utopia, we architects once again find the freedom to change the surface of our planet, to better fit contemporary life forms. In all our actions we try to move the focus from the small details to the BIG picture.”

Ingels is a large advocate of sustainable architecture and re-thinks the traditional – his work is playful and practical in many ways. He has caught international attention for his thoughts and works, his most notable projects are:

To learn more about how Bjarke Ingel’s brain works check out this collection of interviews and talks:

Danish architect Bjarke Ingels rockets through photo/video-mingled stories of his eco-flashy designs. His buildings not only look like nature — they act like nature: blocking the wind, collecting solar energy — and creating stunning views at a TED talk http://www.ted.com

“This is the country that invented surf and turf!,” noted BIG Principal Bjarke Ingels in New York magazine when describing his forthcoming residential project W57, “a European-style, low-rise apartment block encircling a courtyard, and a Manhattan tower-on-a-podium, yielding something that looks like neither and behaves like both.” Ingels returns to GSAPP to discuss his recent work.

Bjarke Ingels describes how when asked to design a Scandinavian skyscraper with views and daylight in abundance, he chose a slim volume: a thin slab with minimal distance between the facades. The thin slab however is as structurally complicated as it is visually simple. It combines maximum wind pressure – the wide side – with minimal foothold – the short side, thus appearing as an unstable monolith.

The Escher Tower in response consists of 3 square towers merged into one. The central tower is straight as a dart, the two peripheral ones change places between ground floor and penthouse, causing the volume to flip 90 degrees. This provides maximal foothold for the hardest wind pressures.

There are so many great architecture resources online I thought I would share my favorite architecture websites. These websites feature modern and contemporary architecture and include great photos and information on new projects around the world.

I love to look at these websites and now you can too.

These are not inclusive of all architecture websites – just some of my favorites. listed in alphabetical order.

…Talk like an architect continued

Here is a lexicon of words to help you discuss architecture and understand architects:

Balance [bal-uhns]: Always a goal for architect creating balance can be done most easily with symmetry however asymmetrical architecture can still obtain balance. Architectural balance is concerned with the arrangement and proportioning of mass to obtain visual equilibrium.

The balance of the CCTV building in beijing changes dramatically as you move around it. Flickr Photos by Ningbo Ningbo

Occupant experience: This term is a way of empathizing with how users of the building will understand the space.

Permeability of the space: This is a very architectural way of describing that there is easy movement / flow / connection (visual or physical) between multiple spaces without describing in anyway how this is done. For example the exterior walls of the SOHO Camper store is permeable because there are a number of means to access the store from the street and the street from the store, therefore this is a highly permeable space.

The entire facade blurs the line between interior and exterior on the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York. The Prada Store in Los Angeles by Rem Koolhaas completely deletes the front facade, this retail space has maximum permeability to the street.

Form [fawrm]: A clearly defined area, material, configuration, shape while not specifically describing it at all, thus being generic and specific simultaneously. The form of architecture is typically clear. When an architect or architecture is said to be ‘formal’ it refers being designed based on the outcome of the building form rather than other driving forces such as building function (functionalism) or experience.

Mies van der Rohe is a prime example of a formal architect whereas Koolhaas is less so.

This is the Architecture Centre Amsterdam.

Functionalism [fuhngk-shuh-nl-iz-uhm]: This is an architectural style where the building function, materials, purpose and construction is expressed and is the driving force of the design. Louis Sullivan coined the phrase “form follows function” in the 1920s which transformed the aesthetic of architecture and became a mantra for the modern movement.

Typology: A way to classifying architecture by type. For example residential, institutional, schools, recreational, and so forth.

Architectonics [ar-ki-tek-ton-iks]: The science of architecture / the science of planning and constructing buildings.

Every architect needs a SIGNATURE CHAIR and their modern chairs embody their design aesthetic and creative process. Chair are not a far departure from architecture, in fact in many ways a chair requires the same spatial consideration and informs as much response from the user as architecture does. If you haven’t spent much time thinking about chair design it is worth some reflection. Chairs can reinforce the architecture of a space as well as how that space is to be used. Does the chair allow for a relaxing or is it straight formal. Does the chair look comfortable or sculptural appropriate more to be looked at then used.

Take a look at these chairs… can you see the resemblance in the architecture?

How To Design a Chair tells you everything you need to know and looks at the principles and processes of designing a chair, from its symbolic and functional properties to materials and mass-production techniques. In a working case study Konstantin Grcic, one of the world’s best-known furniture designers, traces the design and development of one of his most successful chairs – the Myto – from start to finish and reveals what it takes to create a successful design.